Container with thumb button in a slot

ABSTRACT

The container with thumb button in a slot is a small elongated container for liquids and viscous substances. The container with thumb button in a slot comprises an elongated tubular housing with a small opening at one end and a slot extending from the other end to approximately half the length of the elongated tubular housing. A piston is disposed near the end of the elongated tubular housing with the slot. The piston has a raised thumb button near the end that is disposed near the end of the elongated tubular housing. The raised thumb button is engaged to a ratchet mechanism to enable the piston to move back and forth in the elongated tubular housing in predetermined steps. A liquid or viscous substance is disposed in the elongated tubular housing between the small opening at one end of the elongated tubular housing and the piston wherein when the piston is urged toward the liquid or viscous substance in the elongated tubular housing, the liquid or viscous substance will be extracted from the elongated tubular housing through the small opening at the end of the elongated tubular housing.

BACKGROUND-FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a small container for aliquid or viscous substance. More specifically, the present inventionrelates to a small elongated container for liquid or viscous substancewith a sliding piston delivery system.

BACKGROUND-DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Small containers in the general form of an elongated tube are commonlyused to distribute small quantity of liquid and cream. Such containersare usually made as small as possible, particularly if it is used todistribute samples or if the contents are expensive and only a verysmall amount is necessary. However, due to the capillary action of theliquid or viscosity of the cream, there is a limitation to how small ofa diameter of the container may be used and still allow the content tobe dispensed from the container.

If the diameter of the container is too small, the content cannot bedispensed from the container due to the capillary action of the liquidor the viscosity of the cream. One method of resolving this difficultyis to use a soft compressible container to enable the compression of thecontainer to force its contents out of the container. However, this typeof container suffers the disadvantage that it can easily andaccidentally be compressed thereby leaking its contents. Also, it isextremely difficult, if not impossible, to completely remove all of thecontents in these type of containers. Furthermore, once the softcompressible container is compressed, it is very difficult, if notvirtually impossible, to restore it to its original shape or to prevententry of air due to the vacuum created after the compression force isremoved and the soft compressible container attempts to return to itsoriginal shape.

There is a point where the diameter of the container is made as small aspossible and yet still allows the liquid in the container to bedispensed with ease. Most small liquid sample containers are made withcross-sections at this minimum diameter. However, even at this minimumdiameter, the container is still too large and not economical fordispensing expensive samples. Much more liquid or cream than necessaryfor a sample must still be filled in the container or the container willhave a large void that appears to be left from evaporated liquid.

Although a smaller diameter container is desirable, it has not beenpossible due to the physical phenomenon of capillary action of theliquid and the viscosity of the cream that limits how small a diameterthe container may have. The present invention is a simple yet effectivemeans to allow a very small diameter container to be used for dispensingminute amount of liquid or cream samples efficiently and economically.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The container with thumb button in a slot is a small elongated containerfor liquids and viscous substances. The container with thumb button in aslot comprises an elongated tubular housing with a small opening at oneend and a slot extending from the other end to approximately half thelength of the elongated tubular housing. A piston is disposed near theend of the elongated tubular housing with the slot. The piston has araised thumb button near the end that is disposed near the end of theelongated tubular housing. The raised thumb button is engaged to aratchet mechanism to enable the piston to move back and forth in theelongated tubular housing in predetermined steps. A liquid or viscoussubstance is disposed in the elongated tubular housing between the smallopening at one end of the elongated tubular housing and the pistonwherein when the piston is urged toward the liquid or viscous substancein the elongated tubular housing, the liquid or viscous substance willbe extracted from the elongated tubular housing through the smallopening at the end of the elongated tubular housing.

In an alternate embodiment, the container with thumb button in a slotcomprises an elongated tubular housing with two separate channelsleading to two separate small openings at one end and a slot extendingfrom the other end to approximately half the length of the elongatedtubular housing. Two pistons that are affixed together at a common endare disposed near the end of the elongated tubular housing with theslot. The common end of the pistons has a raised thumb button and isdisposed near the end of the elongated tubular housing. The raised thumbbutton is engaged to a ratchet mechanism to enable the pistons to moveback and forth in the two channels in predetermined steps. A liquid orviscous substance is disposed in each of the channels in the elongatedtubular housing between the small opening at one end of the elongatedtubular housing and the pistons wherein when the pistons are urgedtoward the liquid or viscous substance in the elongated tubular housing,the liquid or viscous substance will be extracted from the elongatedtubular housing through the small openings at the end of the elongatedtubular housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of the container with thumb buttonin a slot.

FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of the container with thumb buttonin a slot.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the container with thumb buttonin a slot.

FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the container with thumb buttonin a slot with two channels.

FIG. 5 shows an alternate embodiment of the container with thumb buttonin a slot with two channels.

FIG. 6 shows an applicator tip for the container with thumb button in aslot.

FIG. 7 shows another applicator tip for the container with thumb buttonin a slot.

FIG. 8 shows another applicator tip for the container with thumb buttonin a slot.

FIG. 9 shows another applicator tip for the container with thumb buttonin a slot.

FIG. 10 shows another applicator tip for the container with thumb buttonin a slot.

FIG. 11 shows an alternate embodiment of the container with thumb buttonin an angled slot.

FIG. 12 shows an alternate embodiment of the container with thumb buttonin a slot in the initial position.

FIG. 13 shows the embodiment of the container with thumb button in aslot shown in FIG. 12 in the operating position.

FIG. 14 shows an alternate embodiment of the container with thumb buttonin a slot.

FIG. 15 shows an alternate embodiment of the container with thumb buttonin a slot.

FIG. 16 shows an alternate embodiment of the container with thumb buttonin a slot with a mixing means.

FIG. 17 shows an alternate embodiment of the container with thumb buttonin a slot with two channels and a mixing means.

FIG. 18 shows an alternate embodiment of the container with thumb buttonin a slot with an opposing button.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description and figures are meant to be illustrative onlyand not limiting. Other embodiments of this invention will be apparentto those of ordinary skill in the art in view of this description.

The container with thumb button in a slot is a small elongated containerfor liquids and viscous substances. As shown in FIG. 1, the containerwith thumb button in a slot comprises an elongated tubular housing 1with a small opening 2 at one end and a slot 3 extending from the otherend to approximately half the length of the elongated tubular housing 1.Alternatively, multiple openings may also be utilized at the end of theelongated tubular housing 1 as shown in FIG. 5. The slot 3 may beparallel to the axis of the elongated tubular housing 1 as shown in FIG.1, or the slot 3 may be at an angle relative to the axis of theelongated tubular housing 1 as shown in FIG. 11. In the preferredembodiment, the elongated tubular housing 1 is made of a plasticmaterial such as polypropylene or polyethylene.

A piston 4 is disposed near the end of the elongated tubular housing 1with the slot 3. The piston 4 has a raised thumb button 5 near the endthat is disposed near the end of the elongated tubular housing 1. Theraised thumb button 5 is engaged in the slot 3 in the elongated tubularhousing 1. The slot 3 preferably has sufficient length from the end ofthe elongated tubular housing 1 to enable the raised thumb button 5 tomove the piston 4 all the way to the end of the elongated tubularhousing 1 with the small opening 2. The raised thumb button 5 may beslightly below, above or sits flush with the exterior surface of theelongated tubular housing 1. The top surface of the raised thumb button5 may also have raised patterns, such as cross-hatching or small ridges,to increase the surface friction with a person's finger. The raisedthumb button 5 is preferably engaged to a ratchet mechanism 6 to enablethe piston 4 to move back and forth in the elongated tubular housing 1in predetermined steps. The ratchet mechanism 6 is well known in theprior art. Some designs for the ratchet mechanism is disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. Des. 303,992, Des. 358,169, 3,577,637, 4,242,795, 4,586,256,and 6,000,136.

A liquid or viscous substance 7 is disposed in the elongated tubularhousing 1 between the small opening 2 at one end of the elongatedtubular housing 1 and the piston 4 wherein when the piston 4 is urged,by pushing on the raised thumb button 5, toward the liquid or viscoussubstance 7 in the elongated tubular housing 1, the liquid or viscoussubstance 7 will be extracted from the elongated tubular housing 1through the small opening 2 at the end of the elongated tubular housing1.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, a viscous substance 8 is disposed in the small opening 2 atthe end of the elongated tubular housing 1. The viscous substance 8 ispreferably silicone but any other suitable viscous substance may beused. The viscous substance 8 is used to seal the small opening 2 andprevent evaporation and contamination of the content in the elongatedtubular housing 1.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment, the container with thumb button ina slot comprises an elongated housing 9 with two separate channels 10,11 leading to two separate small openings 12, 13 at one end and a slot14 extending from the other end to approximately half the length of theelongated tubular housing 9. Two parallel pistons 15, 16 that areaffixed together at a common end 17 are disposed near the end of theelongated tubular housing 9 with the slot 14. The common end 17 of thepistons 15, 16 has a raised thumb button 18 and is disposed near the endof the elongated tubular housing 9. The raised thumb button 18 isengaged to a ratchet mechanism 19 to enable the pistons 15, 16 to moveback and forth in the two channels 10, 11 in predetermined steps. Theslot 14 preferably has sufficient length from the end of the elongatedtubular housing 9 to enable the raised thumb button 18 to move thepistons 15, 16 all the way to the end of the elongated tubular housing 9with the small openings 12, 13. A liquid or viscous substance 20, 21 isdisposed in each of the channels 10, 11 in the elongated tubular housing9 between the small openings 12, 13 at one end of the elongated tubularhousing 9 and the pistons 15, 16 wherein when the pistons 15, 16 areurged toward the liquid or viscous substance 20, 21 in the elongatedtubular housing 9, the liquid or viscous substance 20, 21 will beextracted from the elongated tubular housing 9 from the small openings12, 13 at the end of the elongated tubular housing 9. The two liquids orviscous substances 20, 21 in the channels 10, 11 in the elongatedtubular housing 9 may be the same or different substances.

FIG. 4 shows another variation of the embodiment of the presentinvention shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, a viscous substance 22,23 is disposed in each of the small opening 12, 13 at the end of theelongated tubular housing 9. The viscous substance 22, 23 is preferablysilicone but any other suitable viscous substance may be used. Theviscous substances 22, 23 are used to seal the small openings 12, 13 andprevent evaporation and contamination of the contents in the elongatedtubular housing 9.

FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, the container with thumb button in a slot comprises anelongated tubular housing 24 with one or more small openings 25 at oneend and a slot 26 extending from the other end to approximately half thelength of the elongated tubular housing 24. A piston 27 is disposed nearthe end of the elongated tubular housing 24 with the slot 26. The piston27 may have a raised thumb button near the end that is disposed near theend of the elongated tubular housing 24. The raised thumb button isengaged in the slot 26 in the elongated tubular housing 24. The raisedthumb button may be slightly below, above or sits flush with theexterior surface of the elongated tubular housing 24. The top surface ofthe raised thumb button may also have raised patterns, such ascross-hatching or small ridges to increase the surface friction with aperson's finger. The raised thumb button may be engaged to a ratchetmechanism to enable the piston 27 to move back and forth in theelongated tubular housing 24 in predetermined steps. When the slot 26 isformed sufficiently wide such that a person's finger can easily push theend of the piston 27 towards the other end of the elongated tubularhousing 24, the raised thumb button is unnecessary and the resultingcontainer has a simpler and smoother appearance. A liquid or viscoussubstance 7 is disposed in the elongated tubular housing 24 between theone or more small openings 25 at one end of the elongated tubularhousing 24 and the piston 27 wherein when the piston 27 is urged towardthe liquid or viscous substance 7 in the elongated tubular housing 24,the liquid or viscous substance 7 will be extracted from the elongatedtubular housing 24 through the one or more small openings 25 at the endof the elongated tubular housing 24.

FIGS. 6 through 10 show various applicator tips that may optionally befitted to or formed at the end of the elongated tubular housing with thesmall openings. FIG. 6 shows the end of the elongated tubular housing 1formed with a small cross-cut 28 on a thin-walled/flexible end that willremain closed normally but will be forced open when the piston 4 isurged and exerts pressure on the fluid 7 to force the fluid 7 in theelongated tubular housing 1 out through the cross-cut 28. Alternatively,the cross-cut 28 may be formed in a separate cap 29 that is affixed overthe end of the elongated tubular housing 1 with the small opening 2. Thecap 29 may be made of plastic or rubber.

FIG. 7 shows a cotton tipped applicator tip. The cotton tip 30 may beformed as part of the end of the elongated tubular housing 1 or it maybe a separate cap that can be affixed to the end of the elongatedtubular housing 1. The applicator tip has a hollow interior that definesa fluid flow path from the small opening 2 in the elongated tubularhousing 1 to the cotton tip 30. The tip 30 may be made of any absorbentmaterial such as cotton, foam, and sponge. The tip 30 may also be formedof soft silicone rubber.

FIG. 8 shows a brush/comb applicator tip. The applicator tip 31 isformed in the shape of a brush or comb and may be affixed to the end ofthe elongated tubular housing 1 or formed as part of the end of theelongated tubular housing 1. The brush/comb applicator tip 31 has ahollow interior defining one or more fluid flow path from the base ofthe applicator tip to the end of the applicator tip with the brush/comb.When the applicator tip 31 is used with the dual-channel elongatedtubular housing 9 such as the one shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a mixing means32 may be disposed between the base of the applicator tip 31 and thefluid 20, 21 in the elongated tubular housing 9 to mix the two fluidcomponents 20, 21 in the two channels 10, 11 in the elongated tubularhousing 9. The mixing means 32 may be an intermittent spiraling surface,similar to a screw with an intermittent thread, that will allowcommingling and mixing of the two substances 20, 21 as they pass throughthe mixing means 32. The mixing means 32 may be used with any of theherein described applicators, particularly when there are two or moresubstances in the elongated tubular housing 9 that needs mixing prior toapplication. FIG. 16 shows the mixing means 32 used with the embodimentof the container with thumb button in a slot shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.FIG. 17 shows the mixing means 32 used with the embodiment of thecontainer with thumb button in a slot shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 9 shows an applicator tip with a foam or sponge pad 33 forapplication of the contents of the elongated tubular housing 1. Theapplicator tip has a hollow interior that defines a fluid flow path fromthe small opening 2 in the elongated tubular housing 1 to the foam orsponge pad 33. The applicator tip may be formed as part of the end ofthe elongated tubular housing 1 or it may be a separate cap that can beaffixed to the end of the elongated tubular housing 1.

FIG. 10 shows an applicator tip in the form of a hollow needle 34. Thisapplicator tip 34 may be used to precisely and accurately apply thecontents of the elongated tubular housing 1 to desired locations. Thehollow needle tip 34 may be formed as part of the end of the elongatedtubular housing 1 or it may be a separate cap that can be affixed to theend of the elongated tubular housing 1.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show another embodiment of the present invention. Inthis embodiment, the elongated tubular housing 35 has two separateinside diameters 36, 37. One end of the elongated tubular housing 35 hasa larger inside diameter 36 than the other end of the elongated tubularhousing 35. At the interface of the two inside diameters 36, 37 is aneck section 38 that gradually reduces the inside diameter from thelarger inside diameter 36 to the smaller inside diameter 37. The piston39 has a trapezoid shape with the profile of the neck section 38. Thepiston 39 is preferably disposed in the larger inside diameter section36 and is slidable therein with a thumb button 40 engaged in a slot 41in the elongated tubular housing 35. A fluid 42 is disposed in thesmaller inside diameter section 37. An optional viscous substance 43such as silicon may be disposed at the end of the elongated tubularhousing 35 in the smaller inside diameter 37 to seal the fluid 42 in theelongated tubular housing 35. In the initial position, shown in FIG. 12,the piston 39 is disposed in the neck section 38 and toward the smallerinside diameter section 37 thereby separating the two sections 36, 37 ofthe elongated tubular housing 35 and retaining the fluid 42 in thesmaller insider diameter section 37 in the elongated tubular housing 35due to atmospheric pressure at the other open end 44. In its operatingposition, shown in FIG. 13, the piston 39 is urged away from the necksection 38 thereby providing an air passage for air to enter the largerinside diameter section 36 of the elongated tubular housing 35 into thesmaller inside diameter section 37 of the elongated tubular housing 35to equalize the air pressure thereby releasing the fluid 42 from theelongated tubular housing 35 through the open end 44 of the smallerinside diameter section 37 of the elongated tubular housing 35.

Alternatively, the location of the piston 39 may be reversed, with thepiston 39 disposed in the smaller inside diameter section 37 of theelongated tubular housing 35 and is slidable therein. The piston 39 hasa reversed trapezoid shape with the profile of the neck section 38. Afluid 42 is disposed in the larger inside diameter section 36. Anoptional viscous substance 43 such as silicon may be disposed at the endof the elongated tubular housing 35 in the larger inside diameter 36 toseal the fluid 42 in the elongated tubular housing 35. In the initialposition, the piston 39 is disposed in the neck section 38 and towardthe larger inside diameter section 36 thereby separating the twosections 36, 37 of the elongated tubular housing 35 and retaining thefluid 42 in the larger insider diameter section 36 in the elongatedtubular housing 35 due to atmospheric pressure at the other open end. Inits operating position, the piston 39 is urged away from the necksection 38 thereby providing an air passage for air to enter the smallerinside diameter section 37 of the elongated tubular housing 35 into thelarger inside diameter section 36 of the elongated tubular housing 35 toequalize the air pressure thereby releasing the fluid 42 from theelongated tubular housing 35 through the open end of the larger insidediameter section 36 of the elongated tubular housing 35.

FIG. 14 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, the container with thumb button in a slot comprises anelongated tubular housing 45 with a small opening 46 at one end and aslot 47 extending from the other end to approximately half the length ofthe elongated tubular housing 45. A piston 48 is disposed near the endof the elongated tubular housing 45 with the slot 47. The piston 48 hasa raised thumb button 49 near the end that is disposed near the end ofthe elongated tubular housing 45. The raised thumb button 49 is engagedin the slot 47 in the elongated tubular housing 45. The raised thumbbutton 49 may be slightly below, above or sits flush with the exteriorsurface of the elongated tubular housing 45. The top surface of theraised thumb button 49 may also have raised patterns, such ascross-hatching or small ridges to increase the surface friction with aperson's finger. The raised thumb button 49 is engaged to a ratchetmechanism 50 to enable the piston 48 to move back and forth in theelongated tubular housing 45 in predetermined steps. A slidable needle51 with a piston base 52 is disposed in the elongated tubular housing 45near the small opening 46. A close fitting cap 53 is removably affixedto the slidable needle's piston base 52 and enclosed the needle 51. Aliquid or viscous substance 54 is disposed in the elongated tubularhousing 45 between the slidable needle's piston base 52 and the piston48 wherein when the piston 48 is urged, by pushing on the raised thumbbutton 49, toward the liquid or viscous substance 54 in the elongatedtubular housing 45, the liquid or viscous substance 54 will transmit thefluid pressure to the sliding needle's piston base 52 and move theneedle 51 with the close fitting cap 53 out of the elongated tubularhousing 45. When the slidable needle's piston base 52 contacts the smallopening 46, the slidable needle's 51 movement will be stopped by thesmall opening 46 at the end of the elongated tubular housing 45. At thisposition, the close fitting cap 53 over the slidable needle 51 can beremoved to expose the needle 51. Further exertion of force from thepiston 48 will extract the contents of the elongated tubular housing 45through the needle 51, now exposed at the end of the elongated tubularhousing 45.

FIG. 15 shows a variation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 14. In thisvariation, the opening 46 at the end of the elongated tubular housing 45is covered with a thin puncturable film 461. The close fitting cap 53over the slidable needle 51 is not necessary in this embodiment. Thepiston base 52 of the slidable needle 51 is sized such that the fluidpressure will cause the piston base 52 to move before the fluid 54 willexit through the slidable needle opening. As the slidable needle 51 isadvanced towards the sealed opening 46, it will pierce the thinpuncturable film 461 sealing the opening 46 and expose the slidableneedle 51 outside of the elongated tubular housing 45. When the slidableneedle's piston base 52 contacts the small opening 46, the slidableneedle's 51 movement will be stopped by the small opening 46 at the endof the elongated tubular housing 45. Further exertion of force from thepiston 48 will extract the contents of the elongated tubular housing 45through the needle 51 exposed at the end of the elongated tubularhousing 45.

FIG. 18 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In thisembodiment, an opposing button 55 is affixed on the exterior of theelongated tubular housing 1 circumferentially opposite of the thumbbutton 5. The opposing button 55 enables easier operating of the thumbbutton 5 by providing a place for the exertion of opposing force whenpushing against the thumb button 5. This opposing button 55 may beincorporated into any of the previous embodiments of the container withthumb button in a slot.

Although the invention has been described in terms of particularembodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in lightof this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modificationswithout departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of theclaimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawingsand descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitatecomprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit thescope thereof.

1. A container with thumb button in a slot comprising: an elongatedtubular housing with one ore more small opening at a first end and aslot extending from a second end of the elongated tubular housing; apiston disposed in said elongated tubular housing; and a fluid disposedin said elongated tubular housing between said first end of saidelongated tubular housing and said piston; wherein when said piston isurged to move from an initial position in said elongated tubularhousing, said fluid will be extracted from said elongated tubularhousing through said one or more small opening.
 2. A container withthumb button in a slot as in claim 1, where said piston has a buttonnear an end that is disposed near said second end of said elongatedtubular housing wherein the button is engaged in said slot in saidelongated tubular housing.
 3. A container with thumb button in a slot asin claim 2, wherein a ratchet mechanism is affixed in said elongatedtubular housing whereby said button is engaged to the ratchet mechanism.4. A container with thumb button in a slot as in claim 2, wherein anopposing button is affixed on the exterior of said elongated tubularhousing to enable easier operation of said button by providing a placefor the exertion of opposing force when pushing against said button. 5.A container with thumb button in a slot as in claim 1 wherein saidelongated tubular housing defines two channels with a piston in each ofsaid channel.
 6. A container with thumb button in a slot as in claim 1,wherein a viscous substance is disposed in said one or more smallopenings at said first end of said elongated tubular housing.
 7. Acontainer with thumb button in a slot as in claim 6, wherein saidviscous substance is silicone.
 8. A container with thumb button in aslot as in claim 1, wherein an applicator tip is affixed to said firstend of said elongated tubular housing.
 9. A container with thumb buttonin a slot as in claim 8, wherein said applicator tip has one or more cutthat remains closed normally but is forced open in operation to releasesaid fluid in said elongated tubular housing out through the one or morecut.
 10. A container with thumb button in a slot as in claim 8, whereinsaid applicator tip has a cotton tip, a small comb or brush, a pad, or aneedle.
 11. A container with thumb button in a slot as in claim 1 or 8,wherein a mixing means is disposed near said one or more small openingin said elongated tubular housing.
 12. A container with thumb button ina slot comprising: an elongated tubular housing with a small opening ata first end and a slot extending from a second end of the elongatedtubular housing; a piston disposed in said elongated tubular housing; aneedle with a needle base disposed near said small opening; and a fluiddisposed in said elongated tubular housing between said needle and saidpiston; wherein when said piston is urged to move from an initialposition in said elongated tubular housing, said needle will move froman initial position to an operating position.
 13. A container with thumbbutton in a slot as in claim 12, where said piston has a button near anend that is disposed near said second end of said elongated tubularhousing wherein the button is engaged in said slot in said elongatedtubular housing.
 14. A container with thumb button in a slot as in claim13, wherein a ratchet mechanism is affixed in said elongated tubularhousing whereby said button is engaged to the ratchet mechanism.
 15. Acontainer with thumb button in a slot as in claim 12, wherein a closefitting cap is removably affixed to said needle.
 16. A container withthumb button in a slot as in claim 12, wherein a thin puncturable filmcovers said small opening.
 17. A container with thumb button in a slotcomprising: an elongated tubular housing with two different insidediameters that meet at a neck section and a slot extending from an endof the elongated tubular housing; a piston disposed in said elongatedtubular housing at said neck section; and a fluid disposed in saidelongated tubular housing between an end of said elongated tubularhousing and said piston; wherein when said piston is urged to move froman initial position in said elongated tubular housing, said fluid willbe released from said elongated tubular housing.
 18. A container withthumb button in a slot as in claim 17, where said piston has a buttonwherein the button is engaged in said slot in said elongated tubularhousing.
 19. A container with thumb button in a slot as in claim 18,wherein a ratchet mechanism is affixed in said elongated tubular housingwhereby said button is engaged to the ratchet mechanism.